Rachael Finch joins Spring Carnival celebrity line-up

August 18, 2015

Fresh off the covers of some of the world’s most popular magazines, acclaimed media personality, model and former Miss Universe Australia Rachael Finch will take time off the catwalk to support Sunshine Coast charity Wishlist at the 2015 Wishlist Spring Carnival Gala being held in Caloundra on Friday, 18 September.

Ms Finch will join two of television’s most popular personalities, Natalie Barr and Mark ‘Berretts’ Berretta from Seven’s Sunrise, along with hairdresser to the stars, Joh Bailey and a number of other high profile guests in raising funds for essential health services on the Sunshine Coast.

Wishlist CEO Lisa Rowe said the team was delighted to welcome Ms Finch to the Coast and looked forward to having her grace the stage at the highly anticipated event.

“Since representing Australia at the Miss Universe competition in the Bahamas in 2009, Rachael has become a household name and appeared in a broad range of luxury modelling campaigns across the globe,” Ms Rowe said.

“Rachael’s distinctive and charming on-camera presence has seen her feature in a number of popular television programs including Dancing With the Stars; High Road, Low Road; Celebrity MasterChef and Sunrise.”

“She has also completed a number of stints on radio, acting as a co-host on Nova’s evening show as well as being a regular guest and co-host on national drive show Fitzy and Wippa.”

Ms Rowe said Ms Finch’s passion for health and wellbeing had made her the ideal Wishlist Spring Carnival Gala ambassador, and she was thrilled to have her supporting this year’s cause.

“The funds raised at the 2015 event will be directed to providing and sustaining the most ideal environment for families to relax and retreat from the clinical environment of the children’s ward while still being in close proximity to their bed-bound child at the new Sunshine Coast University Hospital,” Ms Rowe said.

“The fit-out of this space and that of the Special Care Nursery parents’ rooms was not included in the scope of work for the new hospital, so we’d like to ensure these rooms are fitted out as creatively and comfortably as the Health Service and Wishlist can accommodate.”

“The Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service considers these special areas to be worthy of a little more attention and have looked to Wishlist to provide the ‘extras’ that will make all the difference to families in crisis. The aim of our hospital foundation is to create and sustain as relaxing and stress-free an environment as is possible within the walls of a hospital.”

Ms Rowe said Wishlist hoped to raise well over $100,000 during the four-hour auction period at the 2015 event.

“At last year’s event, we achieved a record amount of over $169,000 raised, which funded an endoscopic ultrasound machine, a point of care ultrasound, a video laryngoscope and Nambour Hospital’s ongoing Diversional Therapy program, which sees therapists use yoga and music, as well as interaction with animals and structured play sessions to help reduce stress, anxiety and insomnia amongst paediatric patients,” Ms Rowe said.

“This lunch enables us to really make a real difference in the lives of Sunshine Coast locals and we couldn’t do it without the fantastic support of our sponsors, those donating auction items and our guests who support us so generously on the day.”

Travis Schultz, managing partner at Schultz Toomey O’Brien Lawyers and Wishlist Spring Carnival Gala committee chairman, said the event — which is sponsored by Coastline BMW amongst others — had earned a reputation as the go-to gala event on the Sunshine Coast, with all tickets consistently pre-subscribed before officially going on sale.

“Once again, most of our table ambassadors and their guests were ready to sign up for this year straight after the 2014 event, which is a fantastic position to be in,” Mr Schultz said.

“The ongoing support for the Wishlist Spring Carnival Gala has been overwhelming and if last year is anything to go by, I think we can expect the 2015 event will be one of the biggest and best yet.”

“We’re looking forward to hosting an exclusive catwalk preview of the Sunshine Coast Fashion Festival throughout this year’s gala, showcasing the creations of both local and international fashion designers.”

This year’s major auction items are all valued at over $5,000 and include paintings by renowned local artists Kendall and Raelene Hall, a luxury holiday in the Cook Islands, a Joh Bailey experience in Sydney, 100 bottles of wine from Travis Schultz’s private cellar, bilateral laser eye surgery by Laser Sight, advertising packages from Hot 91.1, Zinc 96.1, Go Transit and the Sunshine Coast Daily and TV ad production by Sound Images.

Silent auction items can once again be viewed and bid on approximately two weeks prior to the event both by guests and those not attending the event.

The 2015 Wishlist Spring Carnival Gala Lunch will be held on 18 September at The Events Centre in Caloundra. For more information, please visit www.wishlist.org.au.

// Ends.

Media contact
Maya Gurry, Fresh PR & Marketing
P: 0410 109 102
E: maya@freshprm.com.au

More about the cause
Paediatric family rooms

This patient lounge provides a change of environment away from clinical areas for patients and visitors. It is an area where family groups can visit and patients can socialise.

This area includes two bedrooms with ensuite, a laundry, lounge and kitchenette that will cater to the needs of higher dependency parents of small children enduring either a short- or long-term stay in the ward. The 24-hour area will support up to 14 patients/visitors and two staff/volunteers. Wishlist will provide two dining tables, a lounge, chairs, TVs, double beds, window furnishings, coffee tables, a microwave, fridge, crockery and cutlery, linen, lamps etc.

The two single bedrooms will be there for parents needing to remain on close call through the night.

The laundry will service the needs of the both the Children’s Ward and Special Care Nursery families and will include a washing machine, dryer and ironing board funded by Wishlist.

Wishlist also plans to staff the family rooms with volunteers who will ensure refreshments are available daily and the area is kept clean. The volunteers will also offer support to families who may need someone to talk to.

Special care nursery

This area will serve as transition rooms for parents looking to take their babies home soon but who may benefit from the practical support of medical staff in learning to care for their newborn or to handle special needs.

This space is comprised of three double bedrooms with ensuites, a parents’ resource room, lounge, laundry and a small kitchenette with beverage bay, along with an outdoor balcony.

The parent resource area is a quiet room for use of a laptop, the provision of literature or other resources. Wishlist will fund a four-seater table and chairs, coffee table, a two- and one-seater lounge and a magazine/brochure rack.

The parent lounge/dining room will be equipped with a lounge, dining table and chairs, microwave, refrigerator and other equipment.

The rooms will also accommodate parents needing to remain close to their newborns in the Special Care Nursery. We’ll provide double beds, linen, a small table and chairs, lamps and other furnishings.

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